返回到 Introduction to Economic Theories
Erasmus University Rotterdam

Introduction to Economic Theories

Wondering why economists have not predicted serious financial crises? Shocked by economic assumptions of human behavior as self-centered and focusing only on what can be measured? Asking yourself if there are no sensible economic alternatives to free markets? Then you are at the right place to learn economics! This is the first online course that teaches economics from a pluralist perspective. Economic pluralism means that a plurality of theoretical and methodological viewpoints is regarded as valuable in itself and is simply the best way in which economics can make progress in understanding the world. This MOOC will illustrate economic pluralism not only in substance but also in form. You will see not only me, a Professor of Economics, but also a pop-up Prof of our business school, who illustrates the actor perspective of firms, government and civil society. And you will meet an online student, based in Greece, who will help you through the tutorial videos in which I will explain key concepts, tools and techniques. I will not limit myself to the dominant theory, as almost every other course does. Instead, I will introduce you to four very different economic theories for the whole set of standard topics in microeconomics and macroeconomics. The theories are presented every time from broad and more interdisciplinary to narrow and more mathematical. The four theories that I like to introduce you to are Social Economics, Institutional Economics, Post Keynesian economics and, at the very end of each topic, Neoclassical Economics, for the special case of ideally functioning markets. But not everything is different in this course. Like every economics course, it includes numbers, diagrams, tables, equations, and some calculations. Why would you go through the effort of learning the basics of four theories instead of one? Because it will help you to see why many economists cannot predict crises, whereas others can see signals but are often not being listened to because they do not belong to the dominant school of thought. It will also enable you to see that it is just one theory claiming economic agents to be self-centered and focusing on the measurable only. Other economic theories go well beyond these limitations. And, finally, the pluralist approach will provide you with policy alternatives to neoliberalist policies promoting free markets. The objective of this course is twofold. First, to enable you to understand different economic viewpoints, linked to important traditions in economic thought, and basic economic concepts belonging to these theoretical perspectives. Second, to enable you to do some basic economic calculations that are important in economic life, such as calculating an inflation rate, and in economic policies, such as estimating the rough gains from trade for both trading partners, and in economic arguments, such as in calculating utility maximization with given prices and budgets. Please note that if you do all course elements, total course load is likely to be 4 ECT (approx. 134 hours). I hope you will enjoy the course!

状态:Market Analysis
状态:Socioeconomics
初级课程小时

精选评论

AG

4.0评论日期:Jun 6, 2020

Easy to achieve a passing grade on assignments, however you will be required to do your own research.

AV

5.0评论日期:May 6, 2018

Wonderfully compiled course. I had no interest in economics prior to this, and now I am quite happy I did this.

VS

5.0评论日期:Dec 30, 2018

A very simple way of teaching here, with all relevant examples, clarity of communication and diagrams, graphs, made this easy to understand conceptually.

PG

5.0评论日期:Aug 31, 2018

Excellent module... Lots of insights... Without much economics background,this course has enlightened me for further research in various topics ..very good facilitators..

JT

5.0评论日期:Sep 27, 2020

Lessons are simple enough to follow but may require some extra reading to fully understand some concepts, but overall it's a good introduction to economics.

BS

5.0评论日期:Jul 7, 2022

Very good course and really enjoyed learning it from Professors.

MA

4.0评论日期:Feb 25, 2025

A really informative and professional course, which gives a sufficient introduction on all major topics of several key theories.

RD

5.0评论日期:Nov 29, 2018

this course provide step by step guide to the economics i loved it

DP

5.0评论日期:Oct 17, 2021

This was a fantastic course explaining the 4 major different economic theories. The professors and assistant were great in explaining the information in this course and providing excellent examples.

YS

5.0评论日期:May 4, 2020

I enjoyed learning this course!! Thank you professor and also pop-up professor!!

AC

5.0评论日期:Oct 11, 2021

This course really helped me in developing great insights for the subject. Thank you Madams and Sir.

SK

4.0评论日期:Sep 29, 2020

its very interesting course and the prof's are very well explained each and every topic with few examples clean and clearly.....

所有审阅

显示:20/93

alberto allegrucci
1.0
评论日期:Jan 8, 2018
James Tan
5.0
评论日期:Sep 27, 2020
PRATIK GHOSH
5.0
评论日期:Aug 31, 2018
Shiang Ying Chan
2.0
评论日期:Feb 17, 2022
Sophia Osborn
3.0
评论日期:Feb 28, 2021
Christopher Robert Rainger
1.0
评论日期:Aug 29, 2020
HEMENDRA SINGH BISHT
5.0
评论日期:Jan 25, 2018
Amit Vats
5.0
评论日期:May 6, 2018
Alejo Ares
3.0
评论日期:Apr 19, 2020
William Arnold Gibson
1.0
评论日期:Apr 14, 2020
BRIAN KILGANNON CPCU, CLCS, ARe, ASLI, API, AIS, AU, AINS
5.0
评论日期:Jun 20, 2021
Sahibzada Arshad
5.0
评论日期:Jan 13, 2019
Hugo Espinosa Vela
5.0
评论日期:Aug 3, 2020
Amanda Gan
4.0
评论日期:Jun 7, 2020
Shantanu Anish Hebbar
5.0
评论日期:Aug 2, 2019
Alexey Kopein
5.0
评论日期:Aug 15, 2017
David Palagi
5.0
评论日期:Oct 18, 2021
Bohaienko Mariia
5.0
评论日期:May 19, 2022
Vinayak Raman Sharma
5.0
评论日期:Dec 30, 2018
Emil Trading
5.0
评论日期:Jan 6, 2026